SEASONAL RISE AND FALL OF WATER QUALITY PARAMETERS IN IMPACTED STREAMS IN THE PIEDMONT: A STUDY OF BUCK CREEK, CARROLL AND HARALSON COUNTIES, GEORGIA

Small watersheds are sensitive to both natural seasonal variations and to human introduced modifications. Buck Creek starts in southern Haralson County flows southward through Carroll County, Georgia where it flows into the Little Tallapoosa River. Buck Creek has significant variations in water quality parameters. The Georgia Environmental Protection Division lists as partially supporting a tributary to Buck Creek. The 1999-2000 drought in Georgia, coupled with normal seasonal variations and discharge of treated sewage caused large swings in dissolved oxygen (DO). Low DO caused several fish kills in Buck Creek during the summer of 2000. During a severe drinking water shortage water from Buck Creek was pumped across a small drainage divide to reach the city of Carrollton’s drinking water intake on the Little Tallapoosa River. This study of Buck Creek is part of the West Georgia Watershed Assessment. Temperature, DO, pH, conductivity, turbidity, TSS, BOD, COD, total phosphorous, ammonia-N, TKN, nitrate-nitrite-N, fecal coliform, hardness, and total Cd, Pb, Zn, and Cu were measured in this study. Field checks and satellite images are used to assist in determination of land usage in the watershed. Buck Creek’s future has several potential water quality problems. Residential construction is altering the watershed and causing higher turbidity and TSS during rain events. Lower DO levels and higher water temperatures are now possible during summers.